Public Archaeology MA

The Public Archaeology MA at UCL is a unique programme in a rapidly growing sector. It provides students with an understanding of the different means of communicating archaeology to the public, and of the real-world political, educational, social, economic and moral/ethical dimensions of public archaeology from a global perspective.

Key Information

Modes and duration

Full-time: 1 year

Part-time: 2 years

Tuition Fees (2015/16)

UK/EU:

£9,015 (FT)£4,530 (PT)

Overseas:

£17,510 (FT)£8,755 (PT)

Application deadlines

All applicants:

31 July 2016

Entry Requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

English Language Requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency.

International students

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below.

Select your country:

International equivalencies

Degree Information

Students are introduced to the range of areas in which archaeology has relevance to the wider world, and develop an understanding of how archaeology is communicated, used (and misused) in the public arena. The flexible programme structure allows students to design a theoretically based or practically based degree depending on each individual's interests and needs.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of one core module (30 credits), optional modules (60 credits) and a research dissertation (90 credits).

Core Modules

Public Archaeology

Options

Antiquities and the Law

Applied Heritage Management

Archaeology and Ethnicity

Archaeology and Education

Archaeologies of Modern Conflict

Art: Interpretation and Explanation

British and European Prehistory: Neolithic to Iron Age

Cultural Heritage and Development

Experimental Archaeology

Managing Archaeological Sites

Managing Museums

Museum and Site Interpretation

Themes, Thought and Theory in World Archaeology: Foundations

Themes, Thought and Theory in World Archaeology: Current Issues

World Rock Art: From Palaeolithic to Present

Dissertation/report

All students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 15,000 words.

Teaching and Learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars discussions, practical demonstrations, and field trips to museums and archaeological sites and monuments around the UK. It features a series of distinguished guest lecturers with extensive first-hand experience in the archaeology, museum, cultural and heritage sectors. Assessment is through essays, project reports and the dissertation.

Further information on modules and degree structure available on the department web site
Public Archaeology MA

Funding

UK and EU students are eligible to apply for Arts and Humanities Research Council funding.

A small number of IoA Masters Award bursaries, normally in the region of £1,000, are available each year.

Scholarships relevant to this department are displayed below. For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Careers

Some graduates of the programme go on to PhD studies while others pursue careers in professional organisations associated with the archaeology, museum, cultural and heritage sectors. Students benefit from the practical real-world insights and contacts within these sectors that the course offers. Career paths in these sectors include the growing fields of education and interpretation in museums and heritage sites; policy and research jobs in key national organisations such as English Heritage and Arts Council England; and the growing interest in public archaeology by commercial archaeological units. The growth of Lottery-funded heritage projects also offers extensive opportunities for public archaeologists.

Top career destinations for this degree

Senior Archaeologist, Museum of London
(2013)

Curatorial and Collections Assistant, Ben Uri Gallery
(2012)

Visitor Experience Assistant, National Trust
(2012)

Moorland Heritage Office, Exmoor National Park Authority
(2012)

Project Research, American University of Rome
(2013)

Employability

Graduates of the Public Archaeology MA have a distinct set of skills and knowledge that equips them for work across the archaeology, heritage and museum sector. This includes an in-depth understanding of the structure of the sector and its socio-economic, political and cultural contexts, but also a very practical appreciation of public understanding and engagement with the past. These strengths are reflected in the diversity of career paths amongst graduates of the Public Archaeology MA programme, in archaeology, museums, the heritage industry and academia.

Why study this degree at UCL?

The UCL Institute of Archaeology is the largest and most diverse department of archaeology in the UK, and provides a stimulating environment for postgraduate study.

Its outstanding archaeological library is complemented by University College London's main library, University of London Senate House and other specialist libraries.

UCL is located in central London, within walking distance of the British Museum and the British Library. Students benefit from London's many museums, galleries and other archaeological spaces, but in particular have easy access to UCL's own museums and collections, which form a resource of international importance for academic research.

Application and next steps

Applications

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

Who can apply?

The programme is suitable both for people interested in academic study of the relationship between archaeology and the wider world, and for people wishing to pursue a career in public archaeology, museums and the wider heritage industry. It is particularly suitable for graduates with a first degree in archaeology, anthropology, history or classics.